Giving Back to the Community at Every Age

"I grew up in Sacramento and the people who live here have been instrumental to my personal growth. Contributing back to the community through Operation Backpack is my way, as a student, of saying thank you!" - Adith Srivatsa

Adith and Ryan were just 15 years old when they learned about Operation Backpack. They immediately knew they wanted to help, so they formed a club at their high school, recruiting other students to collect school supplies for their peers who needed them. This club continued through their high school careers, and now into college, Adith and Ryan are still contributing to Operation Backpack from afar. Today, both men are succeeding in their own college pursuits at Georgia Institute of Technology and United States Air Force Academy, pursuing Biomedical Engineering and Political Science and Spanish.

Ryan says, “Donations to Operation Backpack represent an investment in the future of Sacramento. Going to school, prepared, with the supplies I needed every day afforded me the ability to focus in school which set me up to achieve my goals. Volunteers of America provides the ability for the future generation of leaders in Sacramento to enjoy that same confidence at school as they learn the keys to success.”

We are so thankful for these young men and their passion for serving their community! With people like Adith and Ryan’s support, Operation Backpack raised $57,516 this year, helping 3,500 children succeed in school! We would not be able to send these students back to school with confidence without the support of our community. Thank you, Adith and Ryan, along with the hundreds of other supporters, for your continued participation in Operation Backpack and the greater Sacramento community!